When did courts give corporations the status of a person and more?

I know that in court at some point, corporations were giving individual rights, however that being said and the fact that they have a duty to their stock owners to provide profits over people, does this not, give more power to corporations than the people have and could it be challenged in court so that this country doesn’t completely go down the drain. ie: owned politicians, media etc.,.
My understanding was that the first part was done in court and the second part (duty for stockholders) was done in legislation.

My main question is how do we as a nation fix this problem. It threatens liberty, and installs tyranny in my view..